Backstreet’s back – and bigger than ever. The beloved boy band kicked off their highly anticipated Las Vegas residency at Sphere on Friday night (July 11), delivering an opening show that was, in every sense, larger than life. Titled Into the Millennium, the 21-concert residency celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Backstreet Boys’ 1999 album Millennium with a state-of-the-art production that blends ’90s nostalgia with futuristic technology.
From the moment AJ McLean, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, and Kevin Richardson appeared on the world’s largest LED screen (which wraps around the Sphere’s interior), fans were sent into a frenzy. The quintet made a dramatic live entrance as the opening chords of their classic hit “Larger Than Life” boomed through the 18,000-seat venue. The Sphere’s 360-degree visuals immediately transported the audience: a giant spaceship floating through a starry galaxy materialized above the stage, a playful nod to Millennium’s space-themed artwork. Down below, the Backstreet Boys – decked in sleek white outfits reminiscent of their famous all-white Millennium album cover – launched into tightly choreographed dance moves that had longtime fans screaming like it was 1999 again.
For the next two hours, the group expertly balanced pure pop nostalgia with the cutting-edge capabilities of the Sphere. They performed essentially the entire Millennium album (much to diehard fans’ delight) along with other signature hits. “I Want It That Way” turned into a massive sing-along, with the Sphere’s screen projecting images of the crowd themselves – many dressed in white and holding glowing blue heart signs – creating an immersive sea of unity during the ballad. Upbeat tracks like “The One” and “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” were accompanied by eye-popping visuals: at one point the floor beneath the band appeared to crack open revealing molten lava below (thanks to optical illusions on the wraparound screen), eliciting gasps from the audience. During “Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely,” the five members stood on a platform that slowly lifted 30 feet into the air, bringing them nearly face-to-face with fans in the upper levels – an intimate moment made possible by the Sphere’s engineering wizardry.
Throughout the night, Backstreet Boys also acknowledged the emotional significance of the occasion. Littrell, who has overcome vocal health issues in recent years, paused to thank the crowd for “25 years of incredible support,” his voice cracking slightly as the audience cheered him on. Carter wiped away a tear during a heartfelt rendition of “Show Me the Meaning…”, later explaining that performing an album so tied to their early career in such a grand setting was “overwhelming in the best way.” The group paid tribute to their families and fans via a montage of throwback photos and messages on the Sphere’s screen, underscored by the tender ballad “Back to Your Heart.” But true to form, they ended the night on an upbeat high: confetti rained down and fireworks (digital, on the LED dome) exploded as Backstreet closed with “All I Have to Give” and a reprise of the jubilant “Larger Than Life.”
The Into the Millennium residency is set to run on select dates through August 24 at Sphere (located at The Venetian Resort). With nearly every show sold out in advance – and Millennium 2.0, the band’s anniversary re-release of the album, unexpectedly hitting the iTunes top 10 this week – Las Vegas has fully embraced Backstreet fever. Critics from opening night are already calling it the group’s most spectacular show yet, seamlessly marrying nostalgia with innovation. As the final lyric echoed through the arena (“Backstreet’s back, alright!”), it was clear: a quarter-century into their career, the Backstreet Boys have proven that not only are they back, but they’re right at home in the city of neon dreams, putting on a larger-than-life spectacle for the ages.
